Biofuels/Biomass Introduction

The term Biomass most often refers to organic matter such as timber and crops grown specifically to be burnt to generate heat and power.

Biomass is sustainable and generally carbon neutral because the carbon released in the combustion process is offset by the carbon trapped in the organic matter by photosynthesis during its growth. To be truly carbon-neutral we need to make sustainable use of plants or trees as fuel, and replant them as we harvest them – so that the carbon is reabsorbed in a continuous and virtuous cycle…Continue reading>>

The terms Biofuels and Biogas refer to fuels derived from Biomass, from agricultural and domestic waste and by anaerobic digestion of sewage such as

Biomethane,

Bioethanol,

Biodiesel and

Biobutanol

These fuels can be burnt to produce heat and power, used to run vehicles (Brazil has the highest proportion of road vehicles designed to run on biofuels which peaked at 90% in the 1980s) or powering fuel cells.

All existing petrol vehicles are able to run on a blend that contains 5% bioethanol. Flexible fuel vehicles are able to use blends of up to 85% bioethanol…Continue Reading>>

Biogas typically refers to a (biofuel) gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of organic matter including manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, biodegradable waste, agricultural slurry or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions. Biogas is comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide.

The harvesting of methane and carbon dioxide has a double benefit – they are greenhouse gases so allowing them to escape will add to Global Warming whilst the gas itself can be used for heat and power. Landfill gas is typically 50-60% methane, 25-35% carbon dioxide and the rest a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and hydrogen sulphide. Biogas can also be cleaned to be identical in characteristics to natural gas and fed into the gas distribution network.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk